Foldable swivel stool

ABSTRACT

A foldable swivel stool has a frame and a cushion attached to and supported by the frame. The frame has a leg frame and a seat frame supported by leg frame. The leg frame has four top connectors, four feet, and four pairs of legs each of which are pivoted at a middle thereof and able to scissor with respect to each other. One receiving opening is defined on each top connector. The seat frame has a lower frame having four downward extending poles being able to inserted into one of the receiving opening, and an upper frame for swivelably fixed to the lower frame. The swivel stool occupies a small storage volume and is able to be easily folded and expanded.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a foldable swivel stool, and more particularly, to a swivel stool which is able to be easily folded and expanded and occupy a small storage volume.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Shown in FIG. 1 is a conventional foldable swivel stool 9. The stool has three telescoping legs 91 supporting a seat 92 thereon. Three lower legs 910 are respectively contained in three upper legs 912 and able to slide with respect thereto. This swivel stool 9 is foldable in a certain degree but still has some drawbacks. The seat 92 is not able to leave the legs 91 and the legs 91 are not able to folded up with respect to each other. These makes a storage volume of the foldable swivel stool is relatively large.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the invention is to provide a swivel stool which occupies a small storage volume and is able to be easily folded and expanded.

In order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a foldable swivel stool having a frame and a cushion attached to and supported by the frame. The frame has a leg frame and a seat frame supported by leg frame. The leg frame has a first, a second, a third, and a fourth top connector, a first, a second, a third, and a fourth foot, a first leg pivotally connected to the first top connector at one end thereof and to the second foot at the other end thereof, a first leg pivotally connected to the first top connector at one end thereof and to the second foot at the other end thereof, a second leg pivotally connected to the second top connector at one end thereof and to the first foot at the other end thereof, a third leg pivotally connected to the third top connector at one end thereof and to the second foot at the other end thereof, a fourth leg pivotally connected to the second top connector at one end thereof and to the third foot at the other end thereof, a fifth leg pivotally connected to the third top connector at one end thereof and to the fourth foot at the other end thereof, a sixth leg pivotally connected to the fourth top connector at one end thereof and to the third foot at the other end thereof, a seventh leg pivotally connected to the fourth top connector at one end thereof and to the first foot at the other end thereof, an eighth leg pivotally connected to the first top connector at one end thereof and to the fourth foot at the other end thereof. The first and the second legs, the third and the fourth legs, the fifth and the sixth legs, and the seventh and the eighth legs are respectively hinged with a first, a second, a third, and a fourth pivot at a middle thereof and able to scissor with respect to each other. One receiving opening is defined on each top connector. The seat frame has a lower frame having four downward extending poles being able to inserted into one of the receiving opening, and an upper frame for swivelably fixed to the lower frame.

These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional swivel stool.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective showing the preferred embodiment of the swivel stool of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the swivel stool shown in FIG. 2 with a cushion thereof being removed.

FIG. 4 is a flat side view of the swivel stool shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a seat frame of the swivel stool shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

FIG. 6 is a flat enlarged view of a swivel mechanism of the swivel stool shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. And,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the leg frame of the swivel stool shown in FIG. 5 showing a status when the frame is folded.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIG. 2, it shows the preferred embodiment of a swivel stool of the invention. The swivel stool has a frame 1 and a cushion 2 for sitting attached to and supported by the frame 1.

For better understanding of the frame 1, the swivel stool with the cushion 2 being removed is shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5. The frame 1 has a leg frame 10 and a seat frame 20 supported by the leg frame 10. The leg frame 10 has a first, a second, a third, and a fourth top connector 31, 32, 33, and 34, a first, a second, a third, and a fourth foot 41, 42, 43, and 44, a first leg 51 pivotally connected to the first top connector 31 at one end thereof and to the second foot 42 at the other end thereof, a first leg 51 pivotally connected to the first top connector 31 at one end thereof and to the second foot 42 at the other end thereof, a second leg 52 pivotally connected to the second top connector 32 at one end thereof and to the first foot 41 at the other end thereof, a third leg 53 pivotally connected to the third top connector 33 at one end thereof and to the second foot 42 at the other end thereof, a fourth leg 54 pivotally connected to the second top connector 32 at one end thereof and to the third foot 43 at the other end thereof, a fifth leg 55 pivotally connected to the third top connector 33 at one end thereof and to the fourth foot 44 at the other end thereof, a sixth leg 56 pivotally connected to the fourth top connector 34 at one end thereof and to the third foot 43 at the other end thereof, a seventh leg 57 pivotally connected to the fourth top connector 34 at one end thereof and to the first foot 41 at the other end thereof, an eighth leg 58 pivotally connected to the first top connector 31 at one end thereof and to the fourth foot 44 at the other end thereof. The first and the second legs 51, 52, the third and the fourth legs 53, 54, the fifth and the sixth legs 55, 56, and the seventh and the eighth legs 57, 58 are respectively hinged with a first, a second, a third, and a fourth pivot 61, 62, 63, and 64 at a middle thereof and able to scissor with respect to each other. One receiving opening 311, 321, 331, 341 is defined on each top connector 31, 32, 33, and 34.

The seat frame 20 has a lower frame 70 having four downward extending poles 71 which is able to inserted into one receiving opening 311, 321, 331, and 341, and an upper frame 80 swivelably fixed to the lower frame 70. The upper frame 80 is used to attach and support the cushion 2. The way of securely coupling two frames together and making them swivelable with respect to each other is a conventional skill and will not be described in detail hereinafter. In this preferred embodiment, the upper frame 80 is installed to the lower frame 70 with a through pin 81, and a swivel mechanism 82 having a lower plate 821, an upper plate 822, and a plurality of bearing rollers 823 between the lower and the upper plate 821, 822. A back frame 83 may be fixed to the upper frame 80, with or without a back cushion 831 attached thereon.

In storage, a user is able to move the seat frame 20 upward and then the poles 71 will be pulled out from the receiving opening 311, 321, 331, and 341, making the seat frame 20 leaving the leg frame 10, as shown in FIG. 5. Then the user is able to move any two of the four top connectors 31, 32, 33, 34 close to each other. The leg frame 10 will be folded accordingly. The back frame 83 may be foldable with respect to the upper frame 80, making a storage volume of the swivel stool smaller. A reversal operation may expand the swivel stool for sitting.

From above description, it is seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. Embodiment of the invention has been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from the invention's principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims. 

1. A swivel stool comprising: a frame having a leg frame and a seat frame supported by said leg frame, said leg frame having a first, a second, a third, and a fourth top connector, a first, a second, a third, and a fourth foot, a first leg pivotally connected to said first top connector at one end thereof and to said second foot at the other end thereof, a first leg pivotally connected to said first top connector at one end thereof and to said second foot at the other end thereof, a second leg pivotally connected to said second top connector at one end thereof and to said first foot at the other end thereof, a third leg pivotally connected to said third top connector at one end thereof and to said second foot at the other end thereof, a fourth leg pivotally connected to said second top connector at one end thereof and to said third foot at the other end thereof, a fifth leg pivotally connected to said third top connector at one end thereof and to said fourth foot at the other end thereof, a sixth leg pivotally connected to said fourth top connector at one end thereof and to said third foot at the other end thereof, a seventh leg pivotally connected to said fourth top connector at one end thereof and to said first foot at the other end thereof, an eighth leg pivotally connected to said first top connector at one end thereof and to said fourth foot at the other end thereof, said first and said second legs, said third and said fourth legs, said fifth and said sixth legs, and said seventh and said eighth legs being respectively hinged with a first, a second, a third, and a fourth pivot at a middle thereof and able to scissor with respect to each other, one receiving opening is defined on each top connector, said seat frame having a lower frame having four downward extending poles being able to inserted into one said receiving opening, and an upper frame for swivelably fixed to said lower frame; and, a cushion attached to and supported by said upper frame.
 2. The swivel stool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper frame is installed to said lower frame with a through pin, and a swivel mechanism having a lower plate, an upper plate, and a plurality of bearing rollers between said lower and said upper plate.
 3. The swivel stool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper frame has a back frame fixed thereto.
 4. The swivel stool as claimed in claim 2, wherein said upper frame has a back frame fixed thereto.
 5. The swivel stool as claimed in claim 3, wherein said back frame has a back cushion attached thereon.
 6. The swivel stool as claimed in claim 4, wherein said back frame has a back cushion attached thereon.
 7. The swivel stool as claimed in claim 3, wherein said back frame is foldable with respect to said upper frame.
 8. The swivel stool as claimed in claim 4, wherein said back frame is foldable with respect to said upper frame.
 9. The swivel stool as claimed in claim 5, wherein said back frame is foldable with respect to said upper frame.
 10. The swivel stool as claimed in claim 6, wherein said back frame is foldable with respect to said upper frame. 